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Angels still haven't made offer to Teixeira

December 9, 2008 | 5:53
pm

LAS VEGAS -- The Angels still have not met face-to-face with agent Scott Boras at the winter meetings, and they have not made a formal contract offer to free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, who is represented by Boras.

But this should not come as a surprise, General Manager Tony Reagins said today.

"There are open lines of communication, and we understood going in that the process would take some time," Reagins said. "So this is not unexpected. ... At the appropriate time, we will make an offer."

Boras has spent the past few weeks meeting with prospective suitors. Teixeira and Boras met with representatives from the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles before the winter meetings and have been discussing parameters of possible deals. The Boston Red Sox also are very interested in Teixeira.

At some point in the very near future, Boras, who is seeking a deal in the 10-year, $200-million range, will solicit formal offers from teams. The Angels had hoped to sign Teixeira for six years, but they seem willing to go to seven years. It may take eight years and $160 million to eventually sign him.

"We're prepared to be responsible and reasonable," Reagins said.

Would he consider a 10-year deal responsible and reasonable?

"Right now, I don't have a clear expectation of what the deal will be," Reagins said. "Each organization has to decide what is appropriate for them."

Reagins was hoping for a quicker resolution to the Teixeira negotiations, because if the Angels can't land their top winter target, they would like to pursue free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia more vigorously.

"There will come a time in the not-too-distant future where we'll have to make a call on certain opportunities," Reagins said. "At some point, we have to determine whether we're in or out, and we're not at that time yet. But we're still working on Plan B, C, D and, in some cases, E."